UPDATE: Sony Music Did Not Admit in Court That It Sold Fake Michael Jackson Music
UPDATE: Lawyers for Sony Music issued the following statement toVariety:
“No one has conceded that Michael Jackson did not sing on the songs. The hearing Tuesday was about whether the First Amendment protects Sony Music and the Estate and there has been no ruling on the issue of whose voice is on the recordings.”
Based on reports from multiple people reportedly in attendance at the hearing this week, the concession by Sony Music’s attorney that the vocals were not Jackson’s was instead made hypothetically, as part of a legal argument that even if the vocals were not actually Jackson’s, the First Amendment would still protect Sony Music’s right to sell and market the album as such. The argument appeared to have been misconstrued as fact.
The story originally appeared in HHNM and was syndicated by Okayplayer.
Sony Music has conceded in court that they released three fake songs sung by an MJ impersonator on the late legend’s first posthumous 2010 album, Micheal.
Sony Music Entertainment has admitted to releasing and selling fake songs by the late Michael Jackson.
Sony's revelation comes four years after several songs were released that were said to have been recorded by the late legend.
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The fraudulent songs, including “Monster,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Breaking News,” appeared on the 2010 posthumous album, Michael. According to court documents obtained by HHNM, Vera Servoa – the fan who launched the investigation into the fake songs – filed a civil suit, accusing MJ’s longtime friends Eddie Cascio, James Victor Porte, and his production company, Angelikson Productions LLC of creating and selling music through Sony and the Jackson estate.
Cascio and Porte initially claimed that the songs were recorded in Cascio’s basement in 2007. Then Serova and the Jackson family contested the claims, saying MJ never recorded them. Serova testified in the Los Angeles Superior Court that they were recorded by a Michael Jackson impersonator named Jason Malachi.
As a result, Sony Music Entertainment conceded in court that it had released fake songs.
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It’s unclear if there will be an monetary punishment for Sony, or if fans or Jackson’s estate will be awarded.
Source: HHNM